Method of and apparatus for making tubular walls



Aug. 4, 19,36. J. G. c. MANTLE 2,050,229

METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TUBULAR WALLS Original Filed July 18, 1924 2 Sheets--Sheecl 1 l Aug-4,1935," n .1. G. c. MANTLE .I 2 2,050,229

METHOD OF ND ,APPARATUS FOR MAKING TUBULAR WALLS original Filed July 18, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 2 3g g i /z z 3.3 n Z6 592mm I ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 4, 1936 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TUBULAR WALLS Y Joseph G. C. Mantle, Leona, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Bridgeport Thermostat Company, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Original application July 18, 1924, Serial No. 726,671. Divided and this application `luly 26, 1930, Serial No. 470,830. In Canada March 6,

9 Claims.

. This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for making tubular walls from shells or tubes of ductile material. 'I'he shells or tubes may be drawn from sheet material and may be flanged or plain.

An object of this invention is to rapidly and economically transform the shells or tubes into such shapes which, in general, could only hitherto be done by repeated annealing and operations :gabor by first forming portions and then joining them together to form the whole. By my invention, `a large number of shapes may be obtained in a single operation which the limited ductility of the material comprising the Vshell or tube would otherwise have rendered impossible.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a method for producing an expansible and-contractible shell or tube having additional corrugations in the folds thereof.

A further` object of this invention is the provision of a-holderfor securely holding a mold part therein.

`Other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious Vand in part specifically apparatus adapted to be operated in accordance with the invention.

In the drawings- Figure l represents a vertical section of a contractible mold vwith a flanged shell or tube therein at the beginning of the operation.

Figure 2 represents a verticalrsection of a Ycontractible mold with a flanged shell or tube at the endof the first stage of the operation;

Figures 3 and 4 are separate plan views of the partsof the contractible mold shown in Figures 1 andr2. n l

Figure 5 represents a vertical section of a contractible mold with a flanged shell therein at the beginning of the operation,the contractible mold being formed of mold parts provided with projections on their faces intermediate their ends.

Figure 6 shows the contractible mold of Figure 5.at the end of the operation.

Figure 'i' represents a vertical cross section of a modified form of top plate adapted to receive the plunger to exert a pressure interiorly of the shell or, tube.

Figures 8 and 9 diagrammatically represent two forms of a mechanism by which a punchholder is adapted tocollapse the contractible mold while applying internal iluid pressure.

Referring now to the drawings, the anged shell or tube I is supported in a contractible mold comprising a bottom mold `part 2, a separable top mold part 3, and intermediate separable mold parts 4. Each of the mold parts 3 and 4 comprises two complemental sections 5 and 6, as shown in Fig. 3, and each of the sections 5 and 6 is provided with a plurality of spaced lugs l. As shown in Figure 3, sections 5 and 6 are divided along a line which also divides certain of the lugs l into two parts, but it is to be expressly understood that the line of division between these sections may be taken at any place. Each mold part 4 is supported and held together in an integral holder 8, each holder 8 being provided with an annular groove 9 adapted to receive the complemental sections 5 and 6 of the mold parts 4. Each holder 8 is also provided with spaced notches or cutaway portions I0 corresponding in position and number to lugs 'l on the sections 5 and E, so that the sections may be` placed within the annular groove 9 of the holder 8 and when given a slight twist or turn are securely held together and prevented from spreading apart during the operation.

The bottom mold part 2 is provided with a central depression or cutaway portio-n l I upon which the closed end of the tube or shell I is adapted to rest.

The ange of the shell or tube I is clamped between the top plate i2 and the top holder I3, the two parts being securely held together by screws or other suitable means. The top mold part 3comprises two complemental sections similar to the ones shown in Figure 3, the two sections being supported and held together in ,the 'top holder I3 by lgrooves and notches or cutaway portions similar to the ones shown in Figure fl.

The top surface of the mold part 3 is flush with the top surface of the top holder I3 so as to Vform a continuous support for the flange of the shell or tube.

Top holder I3 and the intermediate holders 8.

with mold parts 4, are held in spaced relation `by the interposed curved leaf springs I4, one end` of `each spring being attached to the bottom portion of .the holders, and the other or free end of V.the spring being adapted to fit into slots l5 proand the top plate |72, is a removable stop piece Iv8. Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, reference character designates a flanged tube'or'shelL the whole assembly being similar to the 'assembly' described in connection with Figure 1. The contractible mold of this embodiment isof a'slightly are held infspacedj relation bythe interposed" lcurved-leaf springs 39;'one end ofeach. spring being vattached to the'bottom portion of the holders the oneV shown in Fig. 1.

different form from the contractible mold shown in the other embodiment. The bottom mold part 2l is provided with a central'annular` depression 22, and two annular rounded projections "23 and v24v/nich are concentric with thecentral depres- Y sion. `'Surrounding the annular projection 24 is an annular grooveV 25provided with a shoulder 26. The top holder 21V isprovided with av flange or *Y shoulder 28 lwhi'chis adapted to receive thetopmold part 29, the' bottom portionof the mold.

part 29 beingY provided with two concentric,l

roundedyannular projections 3D and'Sl. Y o Y Y ffThetoprmold-partZS is formed ofY two complemental sections similar tothe ones shown in Figiure 3, but sincefthismold part merely restsl onv the shoulder '28, formedpon the top holder 21, the lugs l'srhown inFig. 3'are not necessary.'v The flange ofthe tube Vor shell 20 is clamped between: the top mold part 29 and the top yplate 52 VbyV means of rScrews or'other suitablenmeans connectingthe top plate 32 and the top holder 21. Top plate 32is provided with an opening 33 whichv the-interior of the Shen or tube 2n'. A y o .Y .Aaplurality-of mold parts 35fis provided between the toprmold part 29 and the bottom mold part 2|; Each of these moldparts 35 is provided l with aplurality ofannulan'concentric, rounded projections 3B and 31, the outer projection being of agreater depth kthan the inner one. vA holdery 38 is provided for each separable mold `part35 and the" interconnection of these parts isY similar to Top holder'21and the intermediate Vholders '33 and theA other or free end of each spring being adapted, to fit intoslots 40 provided Vin Vthe upper" VsurfacesY of the holders 38 and the 'botto/m mold partz2 I These springsg function in a way (simi- 60,la'r to the springs i4 'described'in connection with Figures land `2 Vilhenthe `contractible mold is' collapsed,ras shown iin Fig. 6, itfisnapparentthat acontractible andexpansible member is formed inrwhich theindividual folds ofthe shell or tube are valso providec'l with vcorrugations, and the Vtu- -bular wall will take the shape shown in 'Fig-6.7'

Fig. k7 shows a modified `form of falto-p plate 'which maybe substituted 'for-either of the top plates l2 or 32 shown in Figures 1 Vandv 5, respec- 'Ytively Iop platelll is provided with anfupstandingisleeve 4l which receives Ythe plunger 42. The

sleeveVV 5l is provided with projections or lu'gs 43 which are adapted to, be forced downwardly by the levers showninj'connection with Figures 8 tVand9gv. o Y v Referring 4now to Figurev 8, a stud and? roller receives a pipe 34 for conducting uidlpressure t9 carried by the punch-holder 46 engages the slot 41 in an arm ofthe lever 48 fulcrumed at 49. A cam member is attached by screws or other suitable means to the other .arm of lever 48. The cam member 5!! is provided with an arcuate surfacerEl at one end concentric with fulcrum 49 and a cam surface 52 on the restv of the curved surface on the cam member. The cam surface 52 is so formed as to permit the levers to movea greater distance .than the plunger 42 so as not to increase the pressure in the collapsed vtube to too great an extent due to the decrease `in'volume of the interior of the collapsed shell orj tube. The lever 53 fulcrumed at 54 carries a Vro1ler55 which engages the curved surface of cam member 55, and the end 56 of the lever 53 engages an arm of the lever 51 which is fulcrumed at 53. Lever V51 has'a forked end 59 adapted to press downwardly on the lugs or projections 43 of the sleeve 4I' on the top plate 4I for the purpose ofrcompressingthe contractible mold.

.During vthegfirst part of the downward movement, the roller 55-is von the arcuate concentric part 5l ofthe cam member 5i) and no Ymovement isogiven tothe lever 51,V but the plunger-42 moves downwardly a short distance, sufcientto forml preliminary bu1ges'68 inthe tuberor shell *l withthe resultant l creasings 59. Further downward movement of the punch-holder 46 causes Ymovement of the levers-and whenthe punch-holder Yhas reached its bottom position the contractible mold has been compressed to form the corrugated tube or wall. The roller 55 is then on the part ofthe cam surface of thel cam member V52 which is farthest from the fulcrum 49, but it is to be noted Vthat the end 5S of the lever 51 will'move downwardly a greater distance than the plunger 42,.,d'ue toV the shapefof the cam surface 52 on" possible'before lever 670 is` moved. Another lever n 63 is fulcrumed at 64 and has a free-arm 65pmvided with a forked end 6 6 which presses down-v wardly on lugs 43 on Vto'pplate 4l. The outer o ends of the levers 66 and63 are connected by aA Acreasings 69. Further movement of thel punchholder forces ythe end of free arm 62 downwardly Vand due to the interconnectionV of leversand 63,

the forked end `fof lever 63 forces the lugs/or projections 43- on topV plate V4l -downwardlj7 to collapse the vcontractible mold and forrn'the corrugated tuber or shell. Du'ejto the fact thatifree arm 65 of lever 63 is. longer than free^ar1n62 of lever 65, the contractible mold is movedsdownwardly at a faster rate 'than the-plunger 42,V so that' there is not too great a pressure in the collapsed tube due to the decrease' in-'volume thereof during the latter part of the operation. A

The operation of the invention will now'be described. When the top plate shownin'Figs. l, 2',

5 and l5 isused. the shell or tube *ls-'placed "in the contractible mold and the flan-ge of 'the fshell or tube is clamped between the top plate, the top holder `|I3 and `the top mold par-t, as shownfin Figs. 1 and 5. A preliminary-pressure is exerted in the interior of the shell or tube and the preliminary bulges 66 and the resultant creasings 69 are formed as shown in Fig. 2. While the shell or tube is under sustained pressure, the top plate is forced downwardly to form a corrugated shell or tube.

The operation of the invention will now be described when the top plate 4l shown in Fig. 7, is substituted for the top plate shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6. The reference characters of Fig. 1 will be specically referred to. The shell or tube n l is filled with a liquid, usually Water, and iS then placed in the contractible mold, the curved leaf springs ill functioning to keep the individual mold parts in correct spaced relation.. 'Ihe ange of the shell or tube I is clamped between the top mold part 3 in the top holder I3 and top plate I2. 'I'he punch-holder 46 is given a slight downward movement, and, due to the mechanism correlating the levers, no movement of the levers occurs, but the plunger l2 is forced downwardly a short distance. A small downward movement of the plunger causes an increase in pressure in the interior of the shell or tube I to form the preliminary bulges 68 and the resultant creasings 69,

i which creasings assist the springs in keeping the mold parts and holders in correct spaced position during the remainder of the operation. Further downward movement of the punch-holder 46 actuates the levers and the forked ends of the levers which rest on the lugs or projections 43 of the sleeve 6 l to collapse the contractible mold to form the corrugated article. During the latter part of the operation the end 59 (Fig. 8) of lever 5l has moved a greater distance than the plunger 42 due to the shape of the cam surface previously described, The end 66 (Fig. 9) of lever 65 also moves a greater distance than the plunger due to the length of arm 65. This diierential movement of the levers and plunger is necessary so as not to increase the pressure to too great an extent, since the volume of the tube has decreased due to the collapsing operation. To remove the finished article, it is only necessary to remove the top plate 4I and then individually remove the sections of the mold from the holders.

The shells or tubes which are to be operated on are not restricted to shells or tubes of a circular cross section. It is obvious that the contractible mold may have any desired transverse or longitudinal form. Furthermore, the corrugated tubes or shells formed by using my apparatus are not restricted to symmetrical shapes nor to uniform or concentric enlargements of the -shell or tube.

This application is filed as a division of my pending application Ser. No. 726,671, filed July 18, 1924, entitled Method of and apparatus for making hollow articles.

What I 'claim is:

1. In an apparatus for making hollow articles from metal shells or tubes, the combination of means for collapsing the wall of the shell or tube, a contractible mold for surrounding the wall, said mold comprising a plurality of individual moldparts, two of Vsaid mold-parts being adapted to vforxn'on the wall a hollow, outwardly extending, circumferential projection, the projection having a hollow, annular projection extending in the axialdirection oi the wall, and hydraulic means foroutwardly expanding-a portion of the wall into thesaid contractible mold during its contraction to for-m the circumieren'tial projection along with the annular proiecti'on.

v2. In an apparatus `ofthe character described, a. :coniractibl-e' mold including `an integral grooved holder, meid' partsfadapted to be received by the groove in said holder, each mold part having a plurality of annular rounded projections on its surface.

3. A method of making expansible and contractible walls, which comprises mounting a shell or tube in a contractible mold inducing an initial pressure to form a preliminary bulge in the shell or tube, and then further expanding the wall of the shell or tube while collapsing the contractible mold and while restricting the movement of portions of the shell or tube to"'fcrm folds and corrugations in the folds.

4. A method of making expansible and contractible walls which comprises mounting a shell or tube in a contractible mold including a plurality of mold parts, adjacent mold parts being provided with annular projections on their surfaces, inducing an initial pressure to form a preliminary bulge in the wall of the shell or tube, and collapsing the shell or tube while under sustained pressure and restraining or obstructing portions of the shell or tube by the annular projections on the mold parts to form an expansible and contractible article having corrugations in the folds thereof.

5. A method of making expansible and con tractible walls, which comprises, mounting a shell or tube in a contractible mold including a plurality of mold parts, adjacent mold parts being provided with annular projections on their surfaces, forming a series of bulges in the wall of the shell or tube, and collapsing the shell or tube while under sustained pressure and restraining or obstructing portions of the shell or tube by the annular projections on the mold parts to form an expansible and contractible article having corrugations in the folds thereof.

6. A method of making expansible and contractible walls, which comprises, mounting a shell or tube in a contractible mold including mold parts, including an initial pressure to form a series of preliminary bulges in the wall of the shell or tube, and then further expanding the wall of the shell or tube while collapsing the contractible mold to simultaneously form outwardly extending circumferential folds having annular corrugations therein.

7. A method of making expansible and contractible walls, which comprises, mounting a shell or tube in a contractible mold including a plurality of mold parts, forming preliminary bulges in the wall of the shell or tube, and then further expanding the wall of the shell or tube while collapsing the contractible mold to simultaneously form outwardly extending circumferential folds having annular corrugations therein.

8. The method of making expansible and contractible walls, which comprises, mounting a shell or tube in a contractible mold including a plurality of mold parts, adjacent mold parts being provided with annular projections on their sur faces, forming a series of bulges in the wall of the shell or tube, and collapsing the shell or tube while under sustained pressure to form corrugations in the wall thereof and simultaneously The method of making expansble 'anidricon-f op f tractible Wa11s,which comprises, mounting. a'shell orV vtube Ain Va, contractible :mold including .mold parts formed with projections on 'their surfaces, forming Va1, seriesv of `bulges-in the 'Wall of the shell or tube,` and then furtheriexpandng the wall of the shellor tube While Acollapsing-the contractible I nold to form corrugatons inthe wall of the shell or tube, and at the same time forms foldsin the corrugatons by restricting the co1- lapseiof portions of the shell or tubeobyV the projections on the mold parts. Y

JOSEPH G. C.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,050,229. August 4,

JOSEPH G. C. MANTLE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificatic the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, se( column, line 47, claim 6, for "including" read inducing; and that the Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the sa may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of September, A. D. 1936.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) J Acting Commissioner of Paten CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,050,229. August 4,

JOSEPH G. C. MANTLE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificatic the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, se( column, line 47, claim 6, for "including" read inducing; and that the Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the sa may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of September, A. D. 1936.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) J Acting Commissioner of Paten CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,050,229.

JOSEPH G. C. MANTLE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring Correction as `follows: Page 3, second column, line 47, claim 6, for "including" read inducing; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may Conform to the record of the oase in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of September, A., D. 1936.

Henry van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

August 4, 1956. 

